Hotel Riu Papayas 4*

We are just sitting in the hotel on our last night of a week all inclusive as a family of four with two kids aged 10 and 9. We booked this as a planned trip to the UAE was cancelled due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. The week cost us around £5000. The headline is that this is absolutely not a 4* hotel - one step down from luxury. What this is, is a functional 3* family hotel. I think if we’d paid £3k for the week I’d feel it was value for money, but having stayed in numerous TUI hotels and others around Europe and wider, here are my observations. The Good - Communal areas are clean - No shortage of sun loungers around the pool - Pool depth perfect for young swimmers, plenty of shallow areas - Entertainment team put on loads of poolside activities which kept the kids occupied and happy - Short walk into town, although be careful of going to Yumbo too late as it gets a bit… not family friendly The Bad - Food generally low quality, although varied enough to not go hungry but for a self proclaimed 4* I’m not sure that daily fish stew and similar is what should be on the menu - On the theme, the non-buffet restaurants are… buffets. There is no à la carte, which is absolute standard for all inc hotels. One step below luxury and everything is a buffet? - No snacks in the evening. Watching the entertainment and no snack bar open which we haven’t experienced before - Cheap unbranded drinks and hideous wine. Fine for a basic 3* but come on if this is 4* the drink option should be significantly better The Ugly - Our room (116) is so tired, plaster that’s been patched over the years by someone who absolutely doesn’t care as it’s lumpy and horribly finished. Whole room is tatty with creaky mattresses, poorly fitted shelves/fittings - Restaurant frequently didn’t tell you what was in the dishes, so you had to guess. Not great for people with dietary preferences or allergies! All in all, a decent hotel if booked for the right price. But be realistic about expectations, it’s not 4*.

Good hotel in terms of location from the airport. The garden view room was neat with everything needed, air conditioning, refrigerator, balcony, etc. The restaurant was great, different dishes every day and warm. Staff friendly and attentive. The specialty restaurants, the food is good but eat quickly for the next shift. Pool is great but hasn't kept up with the number of people. Too few beds and as a major downside, the HANDBOOKS!